cassio watson had undergone such severe character development that he had advanced from being a charming criminal to a vigilante. surely the other black cats in the multiverse would be laughing their asses off if they saw him assisting spiderman, or attempting to reason with cops that he hadn't done anything nefarious in the past seven months.

the reality was that cassio detested his civilian persona. he'd spent so much time running across rooftops and suspending himself from beams with his mechanical tail that being the black cat had become an intrinsic part of him.

you, however, saw what he'd hidden. you and cassio had been dating for a while, and he adored you. it was pathetic, how he could commit a heinous criminal act, yet be a clingy little shit with you an hour later.

however, juggling his line of work and your relationship with his civvy self was strenuous. he'd often get summoned by spiderman (the stupid motherfucker) while in your company, necessitating awkward departures and lengthy absences during the night.

you, with no rational explanation, had assumed he was cheating on you. cassio honestly could not blame you; he had the mannerisms of someone who would plough through the block, and his absences were suspicious at the very least. but he did see a little bit of humor in the situation.

"you think i've been what?" cassio yawned from where he was sprawled on your plush couch, out of his suit for once, and dressed in a pair of black sweatpants and a random graphic tee he had probably pilfered from your closet.

"sweetheart, i assure you, your claims are baseless." the bleached ends of his curls draped over his forehead as he peered at you, utterly unperturbed-- he had been cowering, as you had made an impressive case, until he had recalled that oh, he was innocent.

"no infedelity has transpired, i promise, i've just been busy. and my schedule is...questionable." he offered, idly toying with one of your settee’s frayed seams, a feigned pout adorning his lips. "you know how it is."